& Construction

Integrated BIM tools, including Revit, AutoCAD, and Civil 3D
& Manufacturing

Professional CAD/CAM tools built on Inventor and AutoCAD
Integrated BIM tools, including Revit, AutoCAD, and Civil 3D
Professional CAD/CAM tools built on Inventor and AutoCAD
Learn how to establish effective naming standards in a common data environment (CDE). This lesson covers the creation and application of attributes and standardized naming conventions aligned with international standards, ensuring consistency, clarity, and compliance across project files. Explore how to create attributes like status codes and classifications, edit fields to match project requirements, and apply naming standards to streamline workflows, enhance collaboration, and prevent confusion.
Video demonstration of Autodesk Docs: Project administrator level access; with default permissions.
Any referenced datasets can be downloaded from "Module downloads" in the module overview.
Transcript
00:04
After completion of this video,
00:06
you'll be able to
00:08
explain how files are named in a BIM project.
00:12
Create a naming standard in a common data environment.
00:16
And assign a naming standard
00:17
to folders and files within a common data environment.
00:22
Common data environments such as Autodesk Construction Cloud
00:25
offer advanced tools to ensure files follow naming standards.
00:29
You can apply naming standards to project files
00:32
to ensure consistency and avoid confusion across teams.
00:36
This forces everyone uploading a file to name it
00:39
correctly before it's made available to anyone else.
00:42
As a project administrator,
00:44
apply a naming standard to a project folder by clicking Settings in the top right
00:50
and click Naming Standards.
00:52
There are no naming standards set up in the project yet.
00:56
To create a naming standard,
00:58
click Create Naming Standard
01:00
and click from ISO 19,650 template.
01:04
To edit the template,
01:06
click Create from Template.
01:08
If you've created attributes manually,
01:11
you may have to click Resolve
01:13
to resolve any duplicate attributes.
01:17
Standards are continually updating and are interpreted
01:20
differently by different companies and teams.
01:22
Usually,
01:23
everyone works to the same process specified by the lead appointed party,
01:28
and if the lead appointed party has multiple projects,
01:31
then they will use the same interpretation.
01:33
Language,
01:34
some countries have overcome this by publishing their own
01:37
national annex at the end of the standard,
01:39
providing examples of these processes.
01:42
For example,
01:43
in this project,
01:44
the UK annex suggests 7 fields are used to name a file.
01:49
Project.
01:50
Originator
01:52
Functional breakdown instead of volume,
01:55
spatial breakdown instead of level,
01:58
form instead of type,
01:60
discipline instead of role,
02:02
and number remains the same.
02:04
And while the terminology may differ on other projects,
02:07
all that matters is that everyone working together in
02:09
this project uses the same process and terminology,
02:13
and that is fully explained in the BIM execution plan.
02:16
Using the naming example as provided here,
02:19
which defines how files should be named in this project,
02:22
while there are 7 fields,
02:24
they are named slightly differently.
02:26
Project number,
02:27
while it is named correctly,
02:29
select edit attribute details and add the description
02:33
Project code identifying this project.
02:38
Edit the character length to fixed
02:41
and 6.
02:44
And edit the character type
02:46
to alphanumeric so that it accepts both text and numbers.
02:51
If anyone attempts to upload a file with a project number that doesn't conform,
02:56
it will be quarantined
02:58
until the proper code is added or the file removed.
03:01
Your project code for this project will be PRJ 001
03:07
as defined in the handout.
03:09
Click save to save the edits to the attribute.
03:13
The originator field is also correctly named.
03:16
However,
03:17
clicking edit attribute details reveals that no originator has been set up.
03:23
The originator is the creator of this information or file.
03:27
Each of the companies involved
03:29
should have an identifier code.
03:31
Looking at the information provided,
03:33
each field should contain all of the information as listed.
03:38
To do this,
03:39
click Add Value
03:41
and enter CON
03:44
in the value field
03:45
and contractor in the description field.
03:49
Then again,
03:50
click Add Value to add the other companies
03:54
ARC
03:56
for the architectural company.
03:60
STR for the structural company.
04:06
And MEP
04:07
for the mechanical,
04:09
electrical,
04:09
and plumbing company.
04:11
And you can continue the process to add every
04:13
stakeholder and company involved in the project as listed.
04:18
Click save
04:19
to save the edits to the attribute.
04:22
The next field is out of date with the ISO standards.
04:26
Click on the title for volume,
04:28
click edit attribute details,
04:31
and rename this field functional breakdown.
04:35
The functional breakdown is the up to-date
04:37
title for the field containing the information,
04:40
such as what volume the information relates to.
04:44
Z Z,
04:45
meaning all volumes,
04:47
this would indicate the information hasn't been split into different buildings or
04:52
parts of buildings and contains information relating to the entire project.
04:58
XX meaning no volumes or the information could be a report,
05:03
a PowerPoint presentation,
05:05
and doesn't contain information specifically containing part of the project.
05:09
Add the options as provided
05:14
meaning this file only contains information relating to volume 1.
05:20
And 02 for volume 2.
05:26
Click save to finish editing the attribute.
05:30
The level field is also out of date with the ISO 19,650 terminology.
05:36
Click on the title for the field and click Edit attribute details.
05:40
Rename this field Spatial breakdown.
05:44
If the file relates to a specific level,
05:47
all levels,
05:48
or again,
05:49
like in the case of a PowerPoint file,
05:51
no levels.
05:52
Adhering to the information provided,
05:55
add a new foundation level to the existing list by clicking Add Value.
06:00
Enter F1 as a level name
06:03
and add foundation as a description.
06:07
And add another level for roof,
06:10
naming it R1 and roof level in the description.
06:16
Click save to finish editing the attribute.
06:20
Continue this process to update all of the fields to current standards.
06:25
Rename the type field to form.
06:28
This field communicates the type of information in the file.
06:32
Is the file a native 3D model file such as a Revit model,
06:36
in which case M3.
06:39
Has it been exported from Revvet?
06:42
That would be indicated by using MR as a form.
06:46
Is a drawing
06:48
Or is it a less-based report?
06:51
Rename DR drawing rendition
06:54
to drawing
06:55
and use DG as a value.
06:59
Continue and add every field code and type listed.
07:03
Click save
07:04
to finish editing the attribute.
07:06
Rename the roll field to discipline.
07:09
What discipline does the information relate to?
07:12
Ensuring architectural is a.
07:17
Structural is S.
07:20
And contractor is W.
07:23
Click save
07:25
to finish editing the attribute.
07:27
The final field number is correct as it is and does not need to be edited.
07:32
This field allows multiple files to be created,
07:36
such as multiple floor plans of the base level of the project.
07:40
Underneath the naming convention,
07:42
scroll down to find status code,
07:45
revision,
07:46
and classification metadata section.
07:49
Here the template has already populated the fields,
07:52
so using this tool there's no need to manually create attributes.
07:57
However,
07:57
click edit
07:58
and look at the options available and edit if needed.
08:03
This time they match what you need.
08:05
Click save
08:06
and save this as a new up to-date naming standard.
08:10
In the naming standards section,
08:12
click select folders to apply this new standard
08:16
to the folders and files contained within them.
08:19
If you select the project folder,
08:22
the standard will be applied to this
08:25
and every subfolder within it.
08:27
However,
08:27
so that you can see the difference when
08:29
working in folders with or without naming standards,
08:32
click to select one of the company specific folders
08:36
like lead appointed Party.
08:39
Click save to finalize the application of the standard,
08:43
and returning to the files in the docks area,
08:46
notice how the lead appointed party now has a symbol next to the folder.
08:50
This identifies which folders have naming standards applied.
Video transcript
00:04
After completion of this video,
00:06
you'll be able to
00:08
explain how files are named in a BIM project.
00:12
Create a naming standard in a common data environment.
00:16
And assign a naming standard
00:17
to folders and files within a common data environment.
00:22
Common data environments such as Autodesk Construction Cloud
00:25
offer advanced tools to ensure files follow naming standards.
00:29
You can apply naming standards to project files
00:32
to ensure consistency and avoid confusion across teams.
00:36
This forces everyone uploading a file to name it
00:39
correctly before it's made available to anyone else.
00:42
As a project administrator,
00:44
apply a naming standard to a project folder by clicking Settings in the top right
00:50
and click Naming Standards.
00:52
There are no naming standards set up in the project yet.
00:56
To create a naming standard,
00:58
click Create Naming Standard
01:00
and click from ISO 19,650 template.
01:04
To edit the template,
01:06
click Create from Template.
01:08
If you've created attributes manually,
01:11
you may have to click Resolve
01:13
to resolve any duplicate attributes.
01:17
Standards are continually updating and are interpreted
01:20
differently by different companies and teams.
01:22
Usually,
01:23
everyone works to the same process specified by the lead appointed party,
01:28
and if the lead appointed party has multiple projects,
01:31
then they will use the same interpretation.
01:33
Language,
01:34
some countries have overcome this by publishing their own
01:37
national annex at the end of the standard,
01:39
providing examples of these processes.
01:42
For example,
01:43
in this project,
01:44
the UK annex suggests 7 fields are used to name a file.
01:49
Project.
01:50
Originator
01:52
Functional breakdown instead of volume,
01:55
spatial breakdown instead of level,
01:58
form instead of type,
01:60
discipline instead of role,
02:02
and number remains the same.
02:04
And while the terminology may differ on other projects,
02:07
all that matters is that everyone working together in
02:09
this project uses the same process and terminology,
02:13
and that is fully explained in the BIM execution plan.
02:16
Using the naming example as provided here,
02:19
which defines how files should be named in this project,
02:22
while there are 7 fields,
02:24
they are named slightly differently.
02:26
Project number,
02:27
while it is named correctly,
02:29
select edit attribute details and add the description
02:33
Project code identifying this project.
02:38
Edit the character length to fixed
02:41
and 6.
02:44
And edit the character type
02:46
to alphanumeric so that it accepts both text and numbers.
02:51
If anyone attempts to upload a file with a project number that doesn't conform,
02:56
it will be quarantined
02:58
until the proper code is added or the file removed.
03:01
Your project code for this project will be PRJ 001
03:07
as defined in the handout.
03:09
Click save to save the edits to the attribute.
03:13
The originator field is also correctly named.
03:16
However,
03:17
clicking edit attribute details reveals that no originator has been set up.
03:23
The originator is the creator of this information or file.
03:27
Each of the companies involved
03:29
should have an identifier code.
03:31
Looking at the information provided,
03:33
each field should contain all of the information as listed.
03:38
To do this,
03:39
click Add Value
03:41
and enter CON
03:44
in the value field
03:45
and contractor in the description field.
03:49
Then again,
03:50
click Add Value to add the other companies
03:54
ARC
03:56
for the architectural company.
03:60
STR for the structural company.
04:06
And MEP
04:07
for the mechanical,
04:09
electrical,
04:09
and plumbing company.
04:11
And you can continue the process to add every
04:13
stakeholder and company involved in the project as listed.
04:18
Click save
04:19
to save the edits to the attribute.
04:22
The next field is out of date with the ISO standards.
04:26
Click on the title for volume,
04:28
click edit attribute details,
04:31
and rename this field functional breakdown.
04:35
The functional breakdown is the up to-date
04:37
title for the field containing the information,
04:40
such as what volume the information relates to.
04:44
Z Z,
04:45
meaning all volumes,
04:47
this would indicate the information hasn't been split into different buildings or
04:52
parts of buildings and contains information relating to the entire project.
04:58
XX meaning no volumes or the information could be a report,
05:03
a PowerPoint presentation,
05:05
and doesn't contain information specifically containing part of the project.
05:09
Add the options as provided
05:14
meaning this file only contains information relating to volume 1.
05:20
And 02 for volume 2.
05:26
Click save to finish editing the attribute.
05:30
The level field is also out of date with the ISO 19,650 terminology.
05:36
Click on the title for the field and click Edit attribute details.
05:40
Rename this field Spatial breakdown.
05:44
If the file relates to a specific level,
05:47
all levels,
05:48
or again,
05:49
like in the case of a PowerPoint file,
05:51
no levels.
05:52
Adhering to the information provided,
05:55
add a new foundation level to the existing list by clicking Add Value.
06:00
Enter F1 as a level name
06:03
and add foundation as a description.
06:07
And add another level for roof,
06:10
naming it R1 and roof level in the description.
06:16
Click save to finish editing the attribute.
06:20
Continue this process to update all of the fields to current standards.
06:25
Rename the type field to form.
06:28
This field communicates the type of information in the file.
06:32
Is the file a native 3D model file such as a Revit model,
06:36
in which case M3.
06:39
Has it been exported from Revvet?
06:42
That would be indicated by using MR as a form.
06:46
Is a drawing
06:48
Or is it a less-based report?
06:51
Rename DR drawing rendition
06:54
to drawing
06:55
and use DG as a value.
06:59
Continue and add every field code and type listed.
07:03
Click save
07:04
to finish editing the attribute.
07:06
Rename the roll field to discipline.
07:09
What discipline does the information relate to?
07:12
Ensuring architectural is a.
07:17
Structural is S.
07:20
And contractor is W.
07:23
Click save
07:25
to finish editing the attribute.
07:27
The final field number is correct as it is and does not need to be edited.
07:32
This field allows multiple files to be created,
07:36
such as multiple floor plans of the base level of the project.
07:40
Underneath the naming convention,
07:42
scroll down to find status code,
07:45
revision,
07:46
and classification metadata section.
07:49
Here the template has already populated the fields,
07:52
so using this tool there's no need to manually create attributes.
07:57
However,
07:57
click edit
07:58
and look at the options available and edit if needed.
08:03
This time they match what you need.
08:05
Click save
08:06
and save this as a new up to-date naming standard.
08:10
In the naming standards section,
08:12
click select folders to apply this new standard
08:16
to the folders and files contained within them.
08:19
If you select the project folder,
08:22
the standard will be applied to this
08:25
and every subfolder within it.
08:27
However,
08:27
so that you can see the difference when
08:29
working in folders with or without naming standards,
08:32
click to select one of the company specific folders
08:36
like lead appointed Party.
08:39
Click save to finalize the application of the standard,
08:43
and returning to the files in the docks area,
08:46
notice how the lead appointed party now has a symbol next to the folder.
08:50
This identifies which folders have naming standards applied.
How to buy
Privacy | Do not sell or share my personal information | Cookie preferences | Report noncompliance | Terms of use | Legal | © 2025 Autodesk Inc. All rights reserved
Sign in to start learning
Sign in for unlimited free access to all learning content.Save your progress
Take assessments
Receive personalized recommendations
May we collect and use your data?
Learn more about the Third Party Services we use and our Privacy Statement.May we collect and use your data to tailor your experience?
Explore the benefits of a customized experience by managing your privacy settings for this site or visit our Privacy Statement to learn more about your options.